Re: Pakistan announce World Cup 15
Younis upbeat despite recent setbacks
http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/03/spt6.htm
LONDON, March 2: Pakistan vice captain Younis Khan warned the competing teams in World Cup on Friday about his team’s potential and said underestimating the Asian side will be a huge mistake on their part.
Writing his column for a popular cricket website in England, Younis said: “There’s been some doom and gloom surrounding the Pakistan camp with the bad luck that we’ve had recently, but the team is feeling confident about the World Cup and is capable of doing wonders on a good day.”
“We cannot disguise the fact that without Shoaib (Akhtar) and (Mohammad) Asif we are a lesser force in bowling, but we still have good and experienced players who can do well for the team.”
Commenting on the mood in Pakistan camp, Younis wrote: “We have spoken about the negative things that have happened to the squad but we are all confident that this group of players can still win. We feel that we can still beat any team in the Cup. The Super Eights will be very competitive with each team playing one another, and it would be a mistake for any team to take us lightly.”
The prolific Peshawar batsman reminded the team’s critics of the scenario confronting Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ way back in 1992 mega event and how they emerged as champions against some heavy odds at the time. “People said all sorts of negative things about the Pakistan team before and during the 1992 World Cup and look what they achieved,” Younis added.
“But it’s important that all the players perform to their potential. We are not relying on just one or two players; it is up to every member of the squad to play well for the team and contribute.”
Commenting on the bowling strengths of his side in the Caribbean extravaganza, Younis said: “I really believe bowlers like Umar Gul, (Mohammad) Sami and Rao Ifthtikar Anjum can be pretty successful at the World Cup. There is strength throughout the squad, particularly in our batting, and our coach Bob Woolmer always says that one-day matches are won by batsmen.”
“We were also unlucky to lose (Abdul) Razzaq at the last hour. Of course he is a good and experienced player who we will miss. But on the positive side, he has been replaced by another player with good ability and experience, Azhar Mahmood, who did well when Pakistan reached the final in the 1999 World Cup. The bottom line is we are very positive, the boys are in good spirits, and nobody is thinking that we cannot do well in the West Indies. We will soon have the chance to prove it on the pitch.”
